Founder Network
We invest in community leaders and job creators
At Founder Forward, we are building a future where diverse founders power fair entrepreneurial ecosystems.
To date, we have awarded over $860,000 to 125 companies led by founders from diverse industries, backgrounds, and experiences. We support founders operating early-stage companies with revenue under $150,000. We have a focus on founders impacting their community through: regenerative business, frontier technology, consumer product goods, and creative media.
Explore our founder network below.
Aaron Devree Jordan
Black Complex Louisville
A co-working space.Agnetha J. Gloshay
Revolutionizing systems & inspiring innovation by investing in Native Women in business & leadership positions.Alain Fernandez
ValueDoc
Free health and wellness marketplace for cash patients.Alisia Richardson
General contractor focused on building affordable housing.Alton Reed
Exterior and interior commercial painting services.Amber Fields
Matching visionary tech leaders with organizations eager to drive innovation and success.Andrea Cozier McLean
Strategic project management and community engagement consulting, combining efficient organizational solutions with human-centered approaches.Annabelle Santos
All-natural products that are a fusion of nature’s therapeutic gifts and cutting-edge science.Anthony Lawson
A multimedia and marketing platform designed to provide visibility for Black entrepreneurs.Antionette Carroll
Training Black and Latinx youth to become the next generation of civic leaders addressing racial inequities in cities.Ashley Richardson
MyTotem
AI powered brand maker that uses data driven algorithms to personalize the branding process.Aslan Tudor
Comics and games shared through in-person activations.Brandon Thurman Hunter
Roog
Social commerce platform to address the problems many small businesses face when marketing their products and services online.Brook LaFloe
Addressing early educational disparities through culturally-relevant learning materials and curriculum.Carlisha Williams Bradley
Training and tools to help women own their voice, lead with power & get paid for their brilliance.Carolyn Pitt
Connecting top talent with premium productions.Cherylee Francis
Video and audio pre to post production company creating socially impactful and culturally relevant content.Cheveral Deacon
Statlab Mobile
A mobile medical laboratory performing precise and affordable blood and urine testsChrista Tawil
Handmade to order food made by Syrian women refugees in Miami.Christian Andressen
Umbrellas Ap
Social media platform that allows users to give and receive advice in an entertaining and anonymous way.Christopher Thomas
Workforce development solutions for business owners, veterans, and military spouses.Courtney Pettway
An award winning platform that makes financial literacy for kids and teens engaging and fun.D Marie Thompson
MyRA
Using tech to connect nurses and healthcare professionals with the people who need themDana Fry
Digital wallet app built for black and brown college students and graduates to speed paying student debt while building credit, and financial literacyDana Le
Trusted 24/7 healthcare concierge for travelers with medical issues abroad.Dani Lopez
Empowering WIC-eligible families to maximize their benefits.Daniel Maloney
A bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturer located in the heart of the South Bronx.Danny Corprew
Scriptly RX (Acquired)
Benefits platform provides patients and organizations with the clearest pathway to savingsDanten Rice
A Software as a Service company providing a personalized service for people suffering with Dementia.David Gibson
A fintech platform that partners with athletes, and NIL stakeholders to manage payments and programs.Deyorhathe Esquivel Sadekaronhes Esquivel
Multi-media company offering personal services for illustration, concept art, music production, audio engineering, and more.Dr. Annice Fisher
A signature coaching methodology that teaches women to reclaim their inner power.Dr. Artika Tyner
Planting seeds of social change through education, training, and community outreach.Dr. Dorothy Nairne
Delta Builds
Supplier of eco-friendly building materials.Dr. Eboni Bell
Social emotional skill building and career exploration for ages 8-17.Dr. Glynita Bell
A holistic experience in crafting peace for the mind, body and spirit for community members and professionals alike.Ebony Campbell
Nubian Newborns
Brand offers high-quality, natural skin and hair care products for Black babies.Eliane Rasmussen
Partner with public and private organizations to drive growth in high performance teams with a bias towards social and racial impact.Elias Lee Francis IV
Visual and digital media studio and incubator that reimagines Native and Indigenous identity.Emilio Lopez
Technologies that prevent ocean pollution, prevent floods, and provide cost savings to communities and businesses around the world.Erika Quezada Sanchez
Holistic, bilingual wellness solutions empowering individuals and organizations to reduce stress, strengthen resilience, and thrive.Gabriel Foreman
Enhancing how environmental data is collected and shared through affordable IoT (Internet of Things) water monitoring systems and services.Gary Harris
Project and program management, research, engineering, and technical assistance for sustainability initiatives.Guillermo A. Sollano
Preserving every moment through photography.Gus Jenkins
Mental.ly
A platform that monitors an individual’s emotional and mental sentiment over time and highlights significant topics through the use of journaling, enabled by AI engine.Hakeem Muhammad
Loudhouse
Changing the perspective on how music is created in American culture.Henry Jake Foreman
Karuna Colectiva
A social enterprise that delivers the principles of engagement, innovation, and application through mentorship, bicycling, and cooperative economicsIbrahima and Mohammed Diallo
African-inspired cuisine, packaged food goods, and experiences.Imani Majied
Making fresh produce accessible to communities in need.Ivelyse Andino
Providing the highest quality kombucha tea that nourishes community, supports local economies, and strengthens local food systems.Jacqueline Stetson
UX Gofer
An enterprise application that helps companies run their own usability tests faster and cheaperJasmin Pierre
Free and affordable resources that center Black mental health.Jeffrey Neal
Sustainable solutions for food waste.Jie Feng
Dental membership that blends AI-powered digital services with trusted in-person care, delivering smarter, transparent, and lower-cost dental care.JoCari Beattie
Revolutionizing the workplace with an eco-friendly backpack that turns into a desk.Joseph Hyman
MoJoe Brewing Company
Mobile coffee brewer.Joseph James
Using patented CRBBP Process to plant the fastest and largest-growing Bio-Crops that capture the most CO 2/Acre/Time Period.Keionna Baker & Cherena Fox
Improving company culture through a people focused, holistic approach to training.
Kelly Pierce
PIERCE Plan
SaaS integrating directly with high school student information systems in order to provide a reliable tracking system.Krystal Zheng
SAVR
Contactless mobile engagement platform for destinations and proprietors to connect and create engaging experiences with guests and visitor.LaShauna Austria
Engaging people of color with sustainable home-growing methods that are both nutritious and cost-effective.Lawrence Chen
Partnering with local companies, businesses, and professionals to provide short-term out-of-the-classroom shadow learning opportunities for curious learnersLecresha Sewell
Melanated Healthcare
Tech-enabled platform assisting Black, people of color, and underserved communities connect with culturally congruent healthcare professionals.Lee Gaddis
Miniatures manufacturer game designer.Leyanis Diaz
Sustainable economic opportunities that achieve measurable impact through workforce development solutions.Lily Cabrera
WellMarkt
A tool to support employees’ mental wellness by pairing them w/certified coaches & licensed therapists.Lily Kesselman
South Bronx Farmers Market
A community-run farmers market located in the heart of the South Bronx.Malik Jackson
Trinhydral
Clean, drinkable water to everyone.Marcellis Counts
Improving the quality of life for residents through beekeeping and farming.Maria Morris
Using food to advocate equity in health, safety, and security for Tulsa’s underserved.Maria Yuan
Making civic engagement accessible, efficient, and impactful.Megan Bell
The Next Door Market Grocery Store
Affordable grocery store.Melinda Williamson
Morning Light Kombucha
Provide the highest quality kombucha tea.Melissa Floyd
Peatland Technologies
Generating zero carbon electricity for small scale applications, including in the developing world.Michael Jackson
Year Round Local Leafy Greens Produced For a Purpose.Michael Odiari
Check App
Contactless interactions between drivers and law enforcement during traffic stops.Michelle Young
Health Careers Training Institute
Preparing students with the education and skills training to function in the role of CNA/SRNA across different healthcare settings.Mike de la Rocha
From farm to cup, Tepito Coffee Is building a bridge between México and the United States, one origin, one person, one coffee at a time.Mo Sloan
Transforming restaurants into tech-savvy food service providers.Nicodemus Madehdou
Increasing representation within the games and animation industry.Nicole Patterson & Sean Smith
PEP Rally
A tech platform allowing schools to share resources while building community and engaging with students.
Nicole Tinson
A social enterprise providing academic to career resources and opportunities to first generation students and professionals.Noel Gaskin
NoLogo Backpacks
Consumer-grade technology-based backpacksNoelle Santos
An independent bookstore and wine bar in the Bronx.Oluwasanmi Ariyo
Wavlength
“One-stop shop” for freelancers that integrates lead generation through social media platformsOlympia Auset
Providing affordable healthy food and education programs in South Central, Los Angeles.Quentin Heard
BLCK MSCL
Bridging the gap between 2.0 digital growth + Web3’s limitless possibilities.Rajinder Rai
Reimagining midlife for the modern woman.Rebecca Scott
Promoting public health through better snacking.Rebekah Jasso Jensen
Mind + Body care rituals powered by Indigenous Latin American botanicals.Reginald Parker
Optimal Solar
Developing affordable solar projects and energy solutions.Richard Bloomfield
Serving craft beer and adding diversity and representation to the shelves of established retailers.Ricky L. Mason
Connecting students to real-world careers through engaging, tech-powered programs that drive impact.Roman Gonzalez
Grow Gardenio
Empowering a generation of lifelong food growers and reconnect them to their food, their neighbors, and themselves.Rosa Garcia
A restaurant crafting a menu and drink selection that celebrates authentic flavors and creativity of Latin flavors.Roslyn Johnson-Karamoko
A retail concept that embodies the heritage, authenticity and spirit of Detroit.Ryan Johnson
361 Commission
Gaming and content company.Sadaf Khan
Erazer
AI cybersecurity for the modern age.Seghen Aklilu
Pack Elephant
Corporate gifting while elevating local artisans.Shakeia Kegler
Software solutions for state and local municipalities.